Machine for operating upon fastenings



Nov. 2 1926.

A. LATHAM MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON FASTENINGS e Sheets-Shet 1 Filed June 26, 1920 H .H. U w- M H .NM. .W

Nov. 2 9 392%..

A. LATHAM MACHINE FOR bPERATING UPON FASTENINGS Filed June 26, 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 2 192 1,%5,354-

A. LA'THAM MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON FASTENINGS Filed June 26, 1920 6 Sheehs-Sheet 5 A. LATHAM MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON FASTENINGS Filed June 26, 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 4- 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filled June 26, 1920 I A LATHAM MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON FASTENINGS Nov. 2 1926.

g?! 9 31 -A. LATHAM MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON FASTENINGS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 26, 1920 211/5 INVENTU 0 72 76 I A? W Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

1,695,354 neural) STATES PATENT cl rics.

ALBERT LATHAM, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN BUTTON 8:, FASTENER CO., 01* AUGUSTA, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON FASTENINGS.

Application filed June 26, 1920. Serial No. 391,908.

taching devices a plurality of movements for each pair of devices advanced. One of these movements may effect the assembling, while another carries the devices forward from the assembling position. These movements are preferably reciprocatory, there being a travel forward for the assembling effect, followed by a withdrawal to allow a posi tioning of the assembled devices,and then a longer reciprocation to bring about their advance. As herein illustrated, these movements are produced by separate actuating mechanisms acting at periods predetermined in the operation of the machine, with provision for lost motion inthe connection be tween one of the driving mechanisms and the advancing means to permit the actuating eifect to be exercised without inter ference.

My invention relates to machines for operating upon fastenings, and more particularly to those adapted for the attachment of such fastenings as buttons to shoes, gaiters and the like, by staples or similar attaching devices.

Objects of the invention are to provide a simple and durable machine of this character, in which the devices operated upon are delivered regularly and with certainty, assembled by positively acting mechanism, and presented in correct relation to the work. 7

In the attainment of these objects, a feature of the invention consists of supplying means for fastening devices and fastening attaching devices, said supplying means cooperating to permit the devices to be assembled, together with means for moving the assembled devices to prepare for their advance from the assembling position. This positioning preferably suitably alines the devices to be acted upon by means which conveys them forward for attachment to the work, if the invention is applied to the setting of the fastenings, or, as an instance of another utilization, may advance them to a magazine tube, whiclrmay later be applied to an independent attaching machine. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a raceway delivers a button with its eye across a staple raceway to receive a leg of the staple, which button is thereafter turned, preferably by grasping it, in the direction of a guideway through which it is to be advanced.

fanother feature of the invention ma be found in a stop lying in the paths of both fastening devices and attaching devices delivered converging raceways. To prodevices,

in which broken away, of a particular embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a broken front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation looking from the right in F ig. 2, with portions broken away and omitted;

Fig. 4 is a broken elevation of the opposite side of the machine;

F 5 illustrates diagrammatically vari ous positions of the driving or advancing member and its actuating mechanism;

F ig.'6 is an enlarged front elevation of the elements co-operating more directly with the fastening and attaching devices;

F ig.'7 is a side elevation thereof;

Figs. 8 and 9 are transverse sectional details on the lines 8-8 and 99 of Figs. 6 and 7, respectively, illustrating the button and staple raceways.

vide for the forward travel of the a portion of the stop may be movable out of said paths independently of the other 1 portions of the $130 This organization in- Figs. 10, Hand 12 show successive posisures a correct assembling of the fastening 'tions of the stop and advancing mechaand attaching devices. As disclosed, the nismsj stop is rotatable, and the portion movable Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the stop from the paths of the devices maybe reand'positioning mechanism; ciprocatory. In the rotation of the stop, it Fig. 14 shows inperspective the connectinay'be arranged to grasp the fastening, and ing portion between the stop-actuating may then perform the positioning function sleeves;

already indicated. Fig. 15 is a detail in elevation of the As a further feature of the invention, I mechanism for rotating the stop; may impart, in a novel manner, to the mem- Fig. 16 illustrates in sectional perspective her which advances the fasteningand atthe button-feeding device;

Figure l is a top plan view, with parts Fig. 17 is a central vertical section therethrough; and

Fig. 18 is an enlarged sectional detail taken through one side of the feeder.

The illustrated machine is designed to attach buttons by means of staples passed.

through the button eyes'and set in the work. For this purpose there is mounted upon a frame a stapleraceway 12 and a button raceway l4, inclined downwardly toward each other and shown as separated by an angle, considered in a horizontal plane, of about 90 degrees, these raceways converging to a stop and positioning mechanism 16. Supported at one side of the frame upon brackets 18, 18 and alined with the staple raceway 12 is a magazine bar 20, which may be loaded with staples and applied to the present machine to supply the raceway. To hold the ma azine bar in correct alinement with the raceway, a retaining plate 22 is secured to the latter and extends over the side of the former, the magazine bar entering between this plate and the side of the frame when it is applied to the brackets 18 and pressed down into co-operationwith the raceway. Both the raceway and magazine include bars 24 of such width that they may be straddled by the staples, and having at the center of their upper side a rounded rib 26 adapted to engagethe depression ordi narily fo" med at the middle of staple yokes. To prevent displacement of the staples upon the ma azine and raceway by the jarring of the machine, a cover-plate 28 extends above them, being clamped between the raceway 12 and magazine and the frame. The button raceway consists of an inclined slot 30 extending laterally in a horizontal direction and serving to receive the button eyes, while a groove 32 formed just below this co-operates with the heads of the but-- tons. One wall of the groove 32 is furnished by an extended depression in the frame, while the opposite wall is provided by a plate 34 attached to the frame by screws 86 passing through vertical slots 38 in the plate. The slotted connection of the plate to the frame permits the vertical adjustment of the former, thereby changing the relation between the head groove and the eye slot, so that the buttons may rest properly therein to travel down the raceway without cloggang.

The raceway 14 is supplied with buttons by feeder 40. This may include a hopper a2 attached to one side of the upper portion of the frame, and having an inclined bottom wall delivering through a throat l4; into a cylindrical container 46. Surrounding the upper portion of the container and joined to the upper end of the buttonraceway 14 is a receiver or guideway l8, the inner wall of which is furnished by the reduced upper edge of the container. The outer "wall may consist of a cylindrical casing 52 curved inwardly at 5st over a shoulder at the top of the container into proximity with the wall 50. There is thus formed an annular groove in which the button heads will rest for movement with relatively slight friction,

and with the button eyes overlying the top of the edge 50. To so arrange this eyeengaging edge to the groove that the buttons may be supported to the best advantage for their travel along the raceway, the depth of the groove may be varied by raising or lowering the casing by means of a screw threaded through a lug 58 projecting outwardly from the top of the casing and contacting with a bracket 50 formed upon the frame. To guide the casing in its movement of adjustment, there is provided a pin 62 rising from the top of the bracket and extending through an opening in the lug 58-. Obviously, if buttons with heads of small diameter are to be fed, the casing will be raised so that the bottom of the groove will lie nearer the top of the edge 50 than if the heads are of greater diameter.

To transfer buttons from the mass in the container to the receiver, elevating or carrier members in the form of pins 6-1- are mow able through a circular series of openings 6'6 in the outer portion of the bottom of the container, toward which openings this bottom wall is inclined at 68. The pins are respectively fixed to the upwardly extending arms of a corresponding series of hell crank levers having pivot-pins 7 2 movable through pairs of radial, horizontal slots Tet near the periphery of a supporting member or head 76. This head is fixed upon the lower extremity of a vertical rod 78 passing through the bottom of the container,

and ca ried by an arm 80 secured at the upper end of a bar 82 arranged to reciprocate vertically in ways in the frame. The bar contains in its lower portion a transverse oaenrng 84: to receive the rounded end of a lever 86 pivoted at 88 upon the frame. Articulated to this lever is a link 90 turning upon the pin of a crank-disc 92 carried upon the end of a short shaft 9i journaled transversely at the bottom of the frame. This shaft is connected by spiral gearing 96 with a longitudinal shaft 98, which in turn is united by spur gearing 100 with a parallel shaft 102. The shaft 102 is connected by spiral gearing 10a to a main driving shaft 106 receiving power through a single-rotation clutch 108 from a pulley 110 rotated from any suitable source of power. As the crank-disk 92 turns, it oscillates the lever 86 and recipi'ocates the bar 82, thus raising and lowering the head 76. Raising the head causes the pins 64 to becarried upwardly from their normal positionillustrated in Fig. 16 of the drawings. in which the reduced points are just below the tops of the openings 66 in the bottom of the container to the positions appearing in Fig. 17, in which said points are above the upper edge or" the wall 50. In thus rising, a certain number of the pins will enter the eyes of buttons lying in a body in the bottom of the container, and elevate them to points above the receiving groove 48. Each of the bell-cranks 70 has a horizontal arm rounded at 112, this portion of the lever being pressed by a spring 114, located in a horizontal recess 116 in the head, against the smooth interior surface of a sleeve 118 movable vertically within a downward cylindrical extension 120 of the container. The travel of this sleeve from the container is limited by a flanged ring 122 screwed upon the bottom of the extension 120; while its upward movement is arrested by a pm 124 depending from the bottom of the container. Formed at the inner top portion of the sleeve 118 is an annular cam 126 having a lower inclined surface 128' and above this a depression 130. As the head is raised and the bell-crank levers 70 approach the'top of the sleeve 118, which is now restingupon the ring 122, the ends 112 of the levers ride over the surface 128, and are by this contact swung outwardly so that they are. shifted from their normal vertical position to the inclined relation shown in Fig. 17 of the drawings, in which the points are above the button-receiving groove 48. The frictional engagement of the levers with the cam raises the sleeve with the head until the former is stopped by contact with the pin 124. The levers now pass over an elevation or ridge 131 between the surface 128 and the depression 130, and snap sharply into said depressions under the influence oi the springs 114. This quick lateral move ment of the ends 01" the pins, accentuated in eliect by their striking against the wall 5 0, causes the heads of all the buttons carried by the pins to be turned outwardly so that they are located above the receiving groove. Then, as the head descends, the sleeve 118 first moves with it with the ends 112 oi the levers remaining in thedepression 130, maintaining the outward position of the pins and elevated buttons until the latter are dolled from the pinsby contact. with the wall. This having been accomplished, the sleeve strikes the stop-ring 122, and the movement of the head continuing, the levers 7O ride out of the depressions, straightening the pins, which continue their movement to the normal position.

For the purpose of conveying buttons trom the receiving guideway 48v into the raceway 14, I provide amember revoluble over said guideway and movable into and out of co operation therewith. Preferably, this member is operable with the elevating pins. To this end, there is formed upon the rod 78 a helix 132, and surrounding this is an internally threaded plate 184. The plate bears upon its upwardly and outwardly inclined periphery 136 a series of groups of bristles or like flexible members 138, the ends of which lie above the guideway. The down ward movement of the plate 134 is limited by a vertical sleeve 140 located at the center of the bottom of the container and serving also as a guide for the rod 78. As the elevating pins are raised by the head, the brush member 138 is carried away from the guide way by the cylindrical portion of the rod at the lower end of the helix. But when, in the downward movement of-the rod, the plate strikes the upper extremity of the sleeve 140. the helix, traveling through the threaded portion of the plate, causes its rotation. At

this time the path of the bristles lies within the guideway, so that they contact with the buttons which have been deposited therein upon the lowering of the pins, and these bristles, revolving in acounter-cloclrwise direction, as viewed from above, sweep the but tons along the guideway into the raceway, which merges tangentially into said guide way.

The leading button in the raceway contacts with the stop and positioning mechanism 16. Extending into the path of the button eyes at the end of the raceway slot 30 is the reduced end or a spindle 142 having a bearing in surrounding sleeve sections 144. and 146 journaled in the frame. The section 144 jacent to the raceway surrounds somew less than halfthe spindle for a portion length, while beyond this, at 148, the sleeve 144 completely encircles the spindle, it having a reduced portion at 149. The inner end of the sleeve 144 has an annular flange 150 bearing against a wall of the frame to prevent outward movement of the sleeve. Th section 1 6 is similar in f i o tie outer portion of the section 144, being less tha; semi-cylindrical, but, in this case t v c v 7 l tire length, it bearing upon the red ced portion 149 of the companion sleeve, and stir; outer end being spaced from the latter at 152. This arrangement allows sec o 146 to rotate relatively to the section 44, so that the opposite walls of the space 152 may approach one another and serve as jaws to grasp a button eye, exerting pressure on its opposite sides. A collar or flange 158 a; the inner end of the section-146 holds it against outward movement similarly to the collar of the-companion section. Rotation imparted to the section 146 is against the resistance of a friction-plug 160 movable toward and from the sleeve'in an opening in the frame, and being pressed into contact with said sleeve by a spring 162. This spring at its outer extremity contacts with a screw 164 closing the frame opening, and permitting. by-variations in its position, a change in the force exerted by the spring and the friction imposed upon the sleeve section by the plug. Surrounding the spindle 142 beyond the sleeve sections 144 and 1 16 is a sleeve 166 connected. with the sleeve 144: for longitudinal separation by co-operating projections and depressions 168. Beyond this sleeve 166 along the spindle is still another sleeve 170 having a bearing in the frame, and connected for rotation with the sleeve 166 by pairs of opposite lugs 172, 17 2 projecting from collars 17 1, 17 1 fast upon the sleeves. Threaded through one of the lugs of each pair is a screw 176, and by adjusting the positions of these screws the time and extent of rota tion communicated from the sleeve 170 to the sleeve 166 may be altered. The sleeve 170 is capable of movement to the left (Fig. 3),being held in engagement with the sleeve 1.66, so that the projections and depressions 168 are maintained in co-operation, by a linger 1T8 depending "from a slide 180 into a groove 186 in the collar. The slide is fixed in position upon the frame by a screw 1S2 passing through a horizontal slot 18 1 in the slide. If it is desired to remove the buttonengaging portions of the sleeve sections 1414 and 1 16 because of a change in the size oi the buttons operated upon, or for any other reason, the slide 180 may be moved to the right (Fig. 3), carrying with it the sleeve section 170. The spindle may now be withdrawn from the sleeves, and the sleeve 166 separated laterally from the sections 144iand 1&6, there having been room created by the movement ot'. the sleeve 170 to free the projections and depressions 168 by a longitudinal. movement of this sleeve 166. This leaves the sections l t-l and 146 entirely free to be drawn inwardly from their hearing in the frame. Fast upon the sleeve 170 is a pinion 188, the teeth being elongated along ,the sleeve to allow the sleeve-travel just described. With this pinion meshes a gearsegment 190 carried at one extremity of a bell crank lever 192 pivoted at 1% upon the frame. At the opposite end 01"- the lever is a lateral projection 196, preferably bearing an anti-friction roll and entering a camgroove 198 formed in the inner face of a cylinder 260 secured to the shaft 98. This cam, acting through the lever and gearing, produces an oscillation of the sleeve portions 1e 1, 1 16, 166 and 170, carrying the space 152 between the sections 1 1 i and 146 from normal alineinent with the slot of the button raceway into a vertical position alined with the rib 26 of the staple raceway and with associated elements hereinafter described. Upon the spindle 14:2 outside the pinion 188 are circular rack-teeth 202, which are engaged by a gear-segment 204: formed upon an arm 206 secured upon the upper extremity of a vertical spindle 208 mounted to turn in the frame. At the bottom of the spindle is fixed an arm 210 having a projection 212 entering a cam-groove 214: in the periphery of the cylinder 200. The effect of this cam and the connecting elements actuated thereby is to carry the outer end of the spindle 0 1 12 inwardly from a position in which a longitudinal groove 216 in one side is opposite the button raceway, through a distance such that the space 152 between the sleeve sections is entirely freed for the movement of the button eyes through it. The spindle is, in addition to its reciprocation, rotatable with the surrounding sleeves, its groove 216 receiving internally projecting portions of the sections ltst and 1 16, there being, however, provision for some circumferential play, to allow the relative movement of the sections. The staple raceway 12 terminates just the rear of a vertical passage 218 in a head 219 of the frame, the last staple of the series depending from the raceway being held in this passage against downward movement by detent or retaining member 220,. the end of which projects just into the passage for engagement by the staple. This detent is guided in a slot in the frame, and has a stem 222 projecting through an opening therein. Surrounding this stem is a spring 22%, which acts to hold the detent yieldably in the passage, and upon the outer extremity of said stein are nuts 226 variable in position to adjust the normal position of the detent. .Vhen pressure exerted upon the top of the staple held by this detent, as is now to be described, said deten! will be thrust back against its spring, thus clearing the passage for the advance of the staple. Guided in the passage or Way 218 is a staple-advancing member 228 this being in the present instance a driver adapted to set the staples in the work. it havi in: an end curved at 280 to conform to the staple yolce. At its upper end the driver is attached to a slide 232 movable in ways above the passage 218. The slide has formed in one edge a rack 236, with which meshes a pinion fact upon a tubular shaft or sleeve 2&0. this sleeve being secured upon a shaft 2412 journaled near the top of the frame. A spiral spring 2% situated in a casing about the rear end of the shaft 242, and is connected to said shaft at its inner convolution and to the casing at 2 1-8. This spring tends, by the tension it exerts upon the shaft. to maintain the driver in a raised position. The force oil the spring may be changed by an adjustment of the attaching point 248 circumterentially ot the casing, this being eflected by the screw 250 passing through an opening in the car head and engaging any one of a circular series of openings in a flange 251 projecting from the edge of the casing. The sleeve 240 has at its inner end an enlargement or flange, from which is a projection 252 extending along the shaft. This is arranged to enter a circumferentially exte ded recess in an adjacent enlargement or flange from a tubular shaft or sleeve 256 surrounding the shaft 242 and loose ther on. The sleeves 240 and 256 have secured upon them pinions 258 and 260, respectively. With the pinion 258 meshes a vertical raclebar 262 arranged to slide in the frame and being divided at 264-, so that it is in two sections independently movable. A rack-bar engages the pinion 260. These raclcbars serve as connectors between the operating shaft- 242 of the driver bar and its driving mechanism, which includes actuating crank-disks 268 and 270 for the bars 262 and 266, respectively. The crank-pin 272 of each disk has a block 274 sliding in ways 276 in transverse extensions of the bars. the revolution of the pins causing the blocks to travel in the ways and reciprocate the bars. The disk 270 is fixed upon the end of the driving shaft 106; while the disk 268 receives motion from a shaft 278 driven by spiral gearing 280 connecting it with the shaft 102. These connections rotate the crank-disks in opposite directions and with the disk 268 moving at double the speed of the disk 270. It is observed, that while the reciprocation of both the bars 262 and 266 will cause, through the sleeves which they actuate, the rotation of the shaft 242, in the same direction, the movement imparted to the bar 228 will be inthe opposite direction to that of the connecting bars. T rat is, when the latter move up, the former moves down, and vice versa. \Vith thedriving mechanism in its normal position, the bar 228 is held at its point of greatest elention. this being indicated at w in Fig. 5 of the drawings; the crank-pins of the disks 268 and 270 occupy the positions designated as a in this figure. At this timethe sections of the bar 266 are in contact 264.; and the projection 252 of the sleeve is situated at the bottom of the slot as viewed in Fig. l. Nhen the action of the driving mechanism begins, the highspeed crank-disk 268. in traveling from its initial point, which is shown as about 15 degrees above the horizontal, to the upper center at I), lowers the bar 228 at a relatively rapid rate to the point 00, so that it contacts with the tern'iinal staple held by the detent 220. pressing this down by pushing the dctent to one side, and. as. this angle 7) of the cr nk-disk is attained, forcing one leg. through the eye of the terminal button which is positioned in the space 152 of the stop device and held against downward movement by the spindle 142. The staple now astride the spindle. held against lateral movement thereby. This being accomplished, continued. movement of the disk 168 to the point 0' quickly withdraws the bar 228 to 3/ so that the staple and button eye are freed. At this time the rotation of the sleeve sections 1% and 1&6 occurs, as preiously described, the section 14 1 in its movement forcing the button eye. against the frictionally restrained section 1 16 to grasp it and then turn it about an axis ex tending through both the head and eye until. said eye is alined with the axis of the passage 218 and with a guideway 281 extending vertically in the head 219 below the stop device. During this insertion of the staple in the button eye under the in fluence of the crank-disk 268, the more slowly moving actuating mechanism, including the disk 270, is allowed to operate independently and without interference by the travel of the projection 252 in the recess 254. In the position 0 the projection will have reached the end of the recess, and the driving mechanism 27 0 comes into action. It has up to this time risen from the lowest center a to the point 0, about degrees above this. It now, in moving to the point cl, lowers the bar 228 to 2, more slowly than in the movement just described under the influence ofthe disk 268, to carry the driving end of the bar against the staple and move this and the engaged button eye downwardly through the passage 281 to the set-- ting point. In the operation, the staple ravels within the passage, while'the button head is outside, its eye passing through a central slot 283., While this is going on, the pin at the rapidly rotating crank-disk 268 is first descending, this independent movement being allowed by a separation of the sections of the bar 262 at the division 264;, and then r from the lower center rising to the initial point a, this being reached when the pin of the disk 270 is at the point (Z. The effect of this last-mentioned disk upon the bar 228 still continues as the crank-pin travels from the upper center (Z to the lower center a. to raise the bar to its normal position 10. During this action the disk 268 makes a complete idle rotation, interference being avoided by the separation of the bar 262 at 264, and the movement of the projection 252 in the recess 254. At all timesin the operation, the spring 244; tends to return the driver to its normal raised position and to take up the lost motion between the sleeve sections 24-0 and and between the portions of the bar 262. The elements are now at normal, readv for a repetition of the Operation.

The work in which the staple is to be set is supported against the pressure of the driver-bar by an anvil 282 suitably recessed at 284C to'deflect the legs of the staples toward each other for the purpose of clinching them in the work. Thisanvil is supported upon a bracket 286 projecting from the side of a slide 288- arranged to reciprocate vertically in ways at the lower portion of the front of the frame. Mounted to move in the same direction as the slide, but at the rear, is a block 290 having at its lower portion a forwardly extending projection 292 upon which is supported a helical spring 293 bearing against a rearward projection 294 from the top of the slide. To prevent this spring from deflecting laterally under pressure, a pin 2% is fixed in the projection 292 and extends within the convolutions of the spring for a portion of its height. At the rear of the block 290 is a horizontal slot to receive a crank-pin 298 projecting from that spur-gear of the pair 100 which is carried by the shaft 98. The revolution of this crank-pin causes the block tobe raised, and through the spring 293 the anvil is forced against the work to hold it yieldin ly againstthe contact end 2-99 of the head 219. Thus the work is properly grasp-ed and held for the setting operation. regardless of its thickness. To fix the anvil in position to receive the setting pressure. a lower surface 300 of the slide 288 is formed to cooperate with the upper inclined surface of a wedge 302 mounted to slide upon the base of the frame and having a rod 304 proj cting from its inner extremity and guided in said frame. This rod passes through an opening in a lug 308 depending from a slide 310 movable horizontally in ways in the frame above the rod and reciprocated by a projection 312 entering a camgroove 314 in the periphery of the cylinder 200. Surrounding the rod 304 between the lug 308 and the wedge, is a spring 316, and at the opposite side of the lug from the spring is an enlargement 318 upon the rod. The (am-groove is of such contour that, after the anvil has been raised into firm contact with the work by the spring 293, the spring 316 presses the wedge 302 yieldingly beneath the surface 300 of the anvil slide, furnishing a positive support for the slide and anvil to enable the latter to resist he pre"sure of the bar 228. After the setting operation, as the pressure upon the work by the anvil is relieved, the lug 308 contacting with the shaft at 318 withdraws the wedge so that the anvil may return to its initial lowered position.

To briefly outline the general operation of the machine, staples are supplied upon the magazine 20, and buttons are placed within the hopper 42. The staples sliding down the raceway 12 are held, with the leader ready for utilization, by the detent 220, while the buttons are elevated by the reciprocation of the pins 64, are moved outwardly by the lat ra l swing of the pins over the receiving guideway 48, and are positioned on said pins for delivery to the guideway by the secondaryabrupt oscillation' lmdcr' the influence of the cam 126. When the pins are lowered, the buttons left in the guideway are swept into the button raceway 14 by the brush 138, and descend the raceway until the first button tierein is stopped by contact with the spindle 142 and with its eye-opening in alinement with one of the legs of the staple supported by the detent in the driver passage. In attaching a button, the operator inserts the work which is to receive it between the anvil 282 and the contact end 299 of the head, and releases the clutch 108 so that the machine starts upon a single cycle of operations. In this, the anvil is raised by the crank-pin 298 to clamp the work against the head, and and is locked to receive the setting pressure by the wedge 302. The driving bar 228 descends under the influence of the crank-disk 268, carrying down the lower staple and forcing back the detent 220, this movement continuing until the lefthand staple leg (Fig. 10) is within the button eye. The driver now rising sufficiently to free the staple, the stop mechanism is rotated by the gearing 188, 190, first grasping the button eye between the sleeve sections 144 and 146, and then revolving it thus held against play to the position illustrated in Fig.11, in which the major transverse dimension of the eye extends in the same direct-ion as the legs of the staple, being positioned for descent through the driving passage 281. While thus arranged, the stop portion of the spindle 142 is moved out of the path of the driver by the gearing 202 and 204; and said driver, actuated by the crank-disk 270, descends more slowly than in the assembling operation to effectively force the staple, with the button, down the passage 281 and into the work. Finally the driver is returned to its normal position; the space 152 of the stop mechanism is restored to alineinent with the button raceway, while the spindle 142 is again project-- ed; the locking wedge is withdrawn from the anvil slide and this is lowered; and the machine is ready for a repetition of the operation.

The buttonfeeding portion of this machine is made the subject of an application for Letters Patent of the United States, this application having been filed on August 4, 1925, hearing the Serial No. 48,084.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine of the class described, supplying means for a fastening device, supplying means for a fastening-attaching device, said supplying means co-operating to permit the fastening and attaching devices to be assembled, and stop means for moving the assembled devices to prepare for their ad ancetro nthe assembling po i ion.

lit)

2. In a machine of the class described, supplying means for a fastening device, supplying means for a fastening-attaching device, said supplying means co-operating to pern'iit the fastening and attaching devices to be assembled, advancing means for the assembl d devices, and means independent of the advancing means for placing the assembled devices in alinement with said advancing means.

3. in a machine of the class described, supplying means for a fastening device, supplying means for a fastening-attaching device,said supplying means cooperating to permit the fastening and attaching devices to be assembled, advancing means for the assembled devices, and means movable in the path of the advancing means for rotating the :t'astenin device into alinement with the advancing means.

4- In a machine of the class described, supplying means for a fastening device, supplying means for a fastening-attaching device, said supplying means co-operating to permit the fastening and attaching de-.

vices to be assembled, means arranged to grasp one of the assembled devices and to move it preparatory to attachment, and means for causing such attachment. 7

5. in a machine of the class described, a staple raceway, abutton raceway, mechanism into engagement with which the staples and buttons aredeliveredfrom the raceways, means for moving the mechanism to cause the legs of a staple and the major transverse dimension of a button eye to extend in the same direction, and means for advancing the thus arranged staple and button from the raceways.

6. In a machineof the class described, a staple raceway, a raceway arranged to deliver a button with its eye opening across the staple raceway to receive a staple, stop mechanismco-operating with both raceways and acting to turn the button eye in the direction of advance of the staple, ant

, means for contacting with the staple to advance it with the associated button.

7. In a machine of the class described, a driver passage and a driver therein,araceway arranged to deliver a button with its eye across the passage, a raceway arranged to deliver a staple with its legs extending longitudinally of the passage, means for advancing the staple through the button eye, and mechanism arranged to both hold the button eye to receive the staple and to turn said eye in the direction of the passage.

8. In a machine of the class described, a driver passage and a driver therein, a raceway arranged to deliver a button with its eye across the passage, a raceway arranged to deliver a staple withits legs extending longitudinally of the passage, means for I advancing the staple through the-button .into and out the eye, and means for grasping the button eye and turning it in the direction of the parsage.

9. In a machine of the class described, raceway for fastening devices, a raceway for attaching devices, said raceways converging, and a stop situated at the juncture of the raceways in the paths of both fastening and att ching crevices delivered by the raceways.

10. In a machine of the class described, a raceway for fastening devices,'a raceway for attaching devices, and a stop situated in the paths of both fastening and attaching devices delivered by the raceways and having a portion movable out of said paths independently of the other portions of the stop.

11. In a machine of the class described, a raceway for fastening devices, a raceway for attaching devices, a stop situated in the paths of both fastening and attaching devices delivered by the raceways and having portion movable out of said paths, and means for reciprocating said portion.

12. in a machine of the class described, a raceway for fastening devices, a converging raceway for attaching devices, and a rotatable stop situated at the juncture of the raceways in the-paths of both fastening and attaching devices delivered by said raceways.

13. In a machine'of the class described, a raceway for fastening devices, a. c verging raceway for attaching devices, a rotary and reciprocatory stop situated in the paths of both fastening and attaching devices delivered by the raceways.

14. In a machine of the class described,

a raceway for fastening devices, a conver in IHCQWEL for attachin devices. and

C) D a 1 a stop arranged for engagement by the de vices from both raceways and provider. with means for grasping one of said devices.

15. In a machine of the class described, a raceway for fastening devices, a converging raceway for attaching devices, and a rotary stop extending across the paths of devices from both raceways and provided with means operable in the rotation of the stop for grasping one of the devices.

16. In a machine of the class describec, a raceway, a rotary and reciprocatory stop co-operatingwith the raceway, and means arranged to reciprocate the stop along its axis of rotation.

1?.ln a machine of the class described, a raceway, movable means for advancing objects delivered by the raceway, and a stop for the objects co-operating with the raceway and having a portion movable in dependently of the remainder of said step path of the advancing means, v

Gil

18. In a machine of the class described, a button raceway, a staple raceway, and a button stop co-operating with the button raceway and having a portion extending into the path of the staple-yokes.

19. In a machine of the class described, a button raceway, a staple raceway, a button stop co-operating with the button raceway and having a movable portion extendi-ng into the path of the staples in the staple raceway, and means for moving said portion out or the path of the staples independently of the button-engaging portion.

20. In a machine of the class described, a button raceway, a staple raceway, and 2. stop device arranged to co-operate with the buttons and staples. delivered by the raceways and having rotary and reciprocatory elements.

21. In a machine of the class described, a button raceway, a staple raceway, and a co-operating button stop having a portion arranged to pass between the legs of a staple and engage said staple.

22. In a machine of the class described, a button raceway, a staple raceway, a cooperating button stop having a portion arranged to pass between the legs of a staple and engage said staple, and means for moving said portion outof engagement with the button and staple.

23. In a machine of the class described, button-supplying means, a device organized to grasp by the eye a button delivered by the supplying means, and means arranged to move the device to turn the thus-grasped button about the axis of its eye and head.

24. In a machine of the class described, a button-raceway, a shifting device co-operating with the raceway and provided with a slot having opposite walls movable relatively to each other and arranged to receive a button eye, and means for moving the shirt ing device out of active co-operation with the raceway.

25. In a machine of the class described, button-conveying passages, a button-shifting device co-operating with the passages and provided with relatively movable walls between which a button eye may be grasped, and means arranged to move the shifting device to change the relation of the grasped button-eye to the passages.

26. In a machine for attaching buttons by staples, a movable staple driver, means for moving a button with an associated staple to a position for driving said staple and including an element contacting with and movable in the positioning of the button and lying normally in the path of the driver, and means for imparting bodily movement to said element to carry it out of the path of the driver.

27. In a machine 01": the class described,

button and staple raceways, means;feat-"ads vancing the buttons and staples from the raceways, a movable device having spaced sections with the space normally co-operating with one of the raceways, and means for moving the device to aline its space with the advancing means.

28. In a machine of the class described, button and staple raceways, means for ad vancing the buttons and staples from the raceways, a movable device having spaced sections with the space normally co-operating with one of the raceways, one of the sections being movable relatively to the other, and means for moving the device to aline its space with the advancing means.

29. In a machine of the class described, button and staple raceways, means for advancing the buttons and staples from the raceways, a movable device having spaced sections with the space normally co-operating with one of the raceways, one of the sections being movable relatively to the other, means for moving the device to aline its space with the advancing means, and means for causing relative movement of the sections.

30. In a machine of the class described, button and staple raceways, means for advancing the buttons and staples from the raceways, a movable device having spaced sections with the space normally co-operating with one of the raceways, means for moving the device to aline its space with the advancing means, and a member movable out of and into the space between the sections.

31. In a button-attaching device, button and staple raceways, a stop device co-operating with the raceways and including a rotatable spindle, a sleeve section rotatable with the spindle, and a co-operating sleeve section mounted to rotate with and relative ly to the companion sleeve section.

32. In a button-attaching device, button and staple raceways, a stop device co-operating with the raceways and including a rotatable spindle, a sleeve section rotatable with the spindle, a co-operating sleeve section mounted to rotate with and relatively to the companion sleeve section, and a friction device engaging said co-operating sleeve section.

33. In a button-attaching device, button and staple raceways, a stop device co-operating with the raceways and including a rotatable spindle, a sleeve section rotatable with the spindle, a cooperating sleeve section mounted to rotate with and relatively to the companion sleeve section, a friction device engaging said cooperating sleeve section, and means for reciprocating the spindle through the sleeve sections.

34. In a machine of the class described,

supplying means for fastening devices and attaching de i s eref g'le mem er ,means for advancing pairs of devices from the supplying means, means for imparting a plurality of reciprocations to the advancing means for each pair of devices, and positioning means acting upon the devices between such plural reciprocations.

36. In a machine of the class described, supplying means for fastening devices and attaching devices therefor, means movable to assemble a supplied fastening device and an attaching device, and means for imparting an independent movement to the assembling means to cause the advance of the assembled devices. V

37. In a machine of the class described, supplying means for fastening devices and attaching devices therefor, a movable member co-operating with the supplied devices, and means for moving said member to assemble a fastening device and an attaching device, to Withdraw it to free the devices and to thereafter advance the assembled devices.

38. In a machine of the class described, supplying means for fastening devices and attaching devices therefor, a member for advancing pairs of devices from the supplying means, means for imparting to said member plural advancing movements for each pair of devices, and means for preparing one of the devices for its advance between the advancing movements.

89. In a machine of the class described, supplying means for fastening devices and attaching devices therefor, a movable member co-operating with the supplied devices,

meansfor moving said member to assemble a fastening device and an attaching device, to withdraw it to free the devices and to thereafter advance the assembled devices, and means for moving one of the devices during the Withdrawal of the assembling means.

40. In a machine of the class described, button and staple raceways, a co-operating staple-advancing member, and means for imparting to the advancing member a staple and button assembling reciprocation and thereafter a reciprocation by which the assembled staple and button are advanced.

41. In a machine of the class described, a

button and staple raceways, a co-operating staple-advancing member, and mean for moving the member to partially advance a staple from its raceway to withdraw the member and to fully advance the staple.

42. In a machine of the class described a button raceway, a staple raceway, a mem ber arranged to contact with a staple delivered by the staple raceway, and means for moving themember to cause a staple leg to enter a button eye,

to free the staple and button and to advance the assembled button and staple. -43. In a machine of the class described, button and staple raceways, a cooperating staple-advancing member, means for moving the member to assemble a button and staple, to withdraw the member and 'to fully ad vance the staple, and means for moving the button during the withdrawal of the advancing member.

44. In a machine of the class described, button and staple raceways, a staple-advancing member co-operating therewith, a mechanism arranged to operate the member to in troduce a staple into a button 'eye, and a mechanism arranged to operate the member to advance the staple and associated button.

45. In a machine of the class described, button and staple raceways, a staple-advancing member co-operating therewith, a mechanism arranged to operate the member to, introduce a staple into a button eye, and a mechanism arranged to operate the member to advance the staple and associated button, said mechanisms acting at different speeds.

46. In a machine of the class described, button and staple raceways, a staple-advancing member cooperating therewith, a mechanism arranged to operate the member to introduce a staple into a button eye, a mechanism arranged to operate the member to ad- Vance the staple and associated button, and

, button and staple raceways, a staple-advancing member co-operating therewith, a. mechanism arranged to operate the member to introduce a staple into a button eye, a mechanism arranged to operate the member to advance the staple and associated button, connections between the mechanism and advancing memberincluding provision for lost motion, and means acting upon the operating mechanism and tending to take up the lost motion.

48. In a machine of the class described, a staple-advancing bar, an operating shaft therefor, and a plurality of actuators arranged to rotate the operating shaft at periods respectively predetermined in the operation of. the machine.

49. In a machine of the class described, a staple-advancing bar, therefor, a power-shaft, and a plurality of actuators connected to the power-shaft and operating shaft and arranged to exert their effectsindependently upon the latteiaf 50. In a machine of the class described, a

her, an operating shaft.

staple-advancing ing member movable in the direction of the I guideway,,and a movable stop devlce co-o'per'ating with the ways for engagement with I both, the bnttons' and staples .,and having a portion lying-v normallyin the path of the advancing member. I

53. In a machine of, the class described, converging button and staple raceways, a guideway to which they deliver, an advancmg member movable in the guideway, a movable stop device co-operating with the Waysa'nd having a portion lying normally in the pathof the advancing member, and means for moving the advancing member to thrust a staple' legthrough the eye oi a button he'ld by the stop' device.

54L. In a machine of theclass described, converging button and staple raceways, a guidew'ay to which they deliver, an advancing member movable inthe guideway, a stop device c'o-operating with the ways and having areciprocator portion lying norni'ally in the path of the advancing member, and means for movingthe stop device to aline the button eye with the guideway.

50. In a machine of the class described, converging button and staple raceways, a guideway to which they deliver, an advancing member movable in the guideway, a movable stop device co operating with the ways and having a portion lyingnormally in the path of the advancing member, means for moving the advancing member to thrust a staple lep; through the eye of abutton heldby the stop device, and means for moving tl'ie stop device to a'line a button eye with the guideway.

56. In a machine of the class described, converging button and staple raceways, a guideway'to which they deliver, an advancing m mber movable in the guideway, a movable stop device co-operating with the ways and having a po-rtijon lying normally in the path oiv the advancing: member, means for moving the advancing member to thrust a staple leg through the eye of a button held bythe stop device and then withdrawing said advancing member, and means acting. during such withdrawal to aline tl'i'e button eye with the guideway.

57. In a machine of the class d'escribed, converging button and staple'racewztys', a

gui'creway to which they deliver, an advancin member movable in the guideway, a rotatable stop device co-operating with the ways and having a portion lying normally in the path of the advancing member, and means for moving said portion independently ot the rotation out of such path.

58. In a machine of the class described, converging button and staple raceways, a guideway to which they deliver, an advancing member movable in the guideway, a movable stop deviceco-operating with the ways and having a portion lying normally in the path oithe advancing men'iber, and means for moving the advancing member to thrust a staple leg through the eye of a button held by the stop device, for withdrawing the advancing member and for then producing a longer reciprocatory movement.

59. In a machine of the class described, converging button and staple raceways, a guideway to which they deliver, anadvancing member movable in the guideway, a movable stop device co operating with the ways and having a portion lying normally in the path of the advancing member, means for moving the advancing member to thrust a staple leg through the eye of a button held by the stop device, for withdrawing the advancing member and for then producing a longer reciprocatory movement, means for moving the stop device to aline a button eye with the guideway, and means for removing a portion of the stop device from the path of the advancing member. 7

60. In a button-attaching machine, the combination with staple-setting mechanism, of opposite relatively movable members he tweenwhich the work is held for the setting operation, yieldable means actuated in the operation of the machine for producing such movement to engage the work, and means movable into the path of one of the members for locking said members against separation,during the setting operation.

61. In a button-attaching; machine, the combination with staple-setting mechanism, of.opposite relatively movable mei'nbers between which the work is held for the setting operation, a driving shaft, yieldable connections between said shaft and one of the members for producing such movement to engage the work, means movable through different distances for locking the members against separationduring the setting operation, and yieldable actuating means for the locking means.

62. In a buttoirattaching machine, a head, a sta ale-setting bar movable therein, a slide, an actuator for reciprocating the slide, an anvil fixed to the slide and movable into co-operation with the head, a spring interposed between the actuator and slide,

and a wedge co-operating with the slide to a wedge co-operating with the slide to lock lock the anvil in co-operation with the head. 63. In a button-attaching machine, a head, a staple-setting bar movable therein,

" a slide, an actuator for. reciprocating the slide, an anvil fixed to the slide and movable into co-operation with the head, a spring interposed between the actuator and slide,

the anvil in co-operation with the head, an

actuator for the wedge, and a spring inter-- posed between said actuator and the wedge. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ALBERT LATHAM. 

